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5 Small Business Tips: Boom During Holidays – OnlineBusinessDegree.org

You always hear about the billions and billions of dollars exchanging hands during the holiday season, and there’s no reason that you shouldn’t be sharing in that wealth with your small business. The holidays can be stressful for small business owners as they try to close out the year strong and make ends meet for their families, but there are actions you can take to make your business, whatever it is, explode this holiday season. Try these tips — and it wouldn’t hurt to make sure you’re on the “nice” list.

No matter what service or product you offer, you can reel in some holiday consumers looking to save some money by offering specials. Whether you offer simple discounts or create packages by grouping products or services, customers are more likely to buy if the price is lower than they’ve seen other places. Creating a deadline for the offer will also push people to act fast in order to take advantage of the deals.

Really think about how best to reach your customers. If they tend to shop in person, direct mail or fliers might work best. Online shoppers may be best reached through email campaigns, and young, tech-savvy customers often communicate and get recommendations through social media. Whatever your marketing strategy (hopefully a tried and true one) is, ramp up your efforts as the holiday season approaches. Finding great gifts and deals is foremost in many people’s minds, so getting your name in front of them during this time is key.

You know how it’s really hard to shop for some people on your list? Your customers are facing the same problem. By giving shoppers the chance to purchase gift cards for your products or services, you give them more opportunities to come to you for gifts. People give gift cards for everything from car washes to Etsy to coffee shops, so if you have a business that doesn’t always translate directly into easily wrapped presents, gift cards are the perfect way to get your stuff under customers’ trees. Better yet, gift cards bring in business in the new year as recipients use them and hopefully find other products or services of yours they want to purchase!

More and more people are turning to the Internet to do most or all of their Christmas shopping, so providing a pleasing user experience on your website is crucial. Make sure customers can easily find how to contact you (and that you respond quickly!), products and services are easy to navigate, and that your shopping cart is free of bugs. If your site isn’t easy to use, customers will just go elsewhere.

The beauty of small businesses is that each is one-of-a-kind and has the potential to be much more charming and friendly than any big box store. Use this to your advantage. Pay attention to the details of your in-store experience (think scented candles, special holiday activities, and personally selected playlists), show off anything that’s unique about your business, and even consider sourcing local products. Your business can become a strong part of the community, bringing in business during the holidays and beyond.